WOMEN'S LANGUAGE AND EXPERIENCE, 1500-1940
Women's Diaries and Related Sources

Part 6: Sources from Wiltshire, Somerset and Hampshire Record Offices

Extracts

Reel 1 Wiltshire Record Office 1915/39

Diary of Mrs S Chauncey of Ayot St Peter, Herts, 1788, 1790, 1815

“1788

July 16 Dined a large party at Sir Lionel Lyde.

July 21 Betsy’s first Assembly.

Aug 1 We dined at Lord Salisbury’s went in Sir Lionel’s Chariot with our horses.

Aug 3 Took Betsy to school at St Albans, Lady Cathcart gave her a large silver spoon being her God

mother.

Aug 16 Betsy’s first letter to me.

Oct 30 Mr Howard and servant came.

Nov 28 A French Nobleman from Paris came recommended by Mr Mallet our friend.

Dec 8 Mr Howard went away.

1790

Jan 4 A very grand Ball and supper at Lord Salisbury’s took Betsy and Miss Dove with me.

July 6 Mrs Dove and Miss dined with me at Sir Lionel Lyde’s, they being on a visit to me.

Aug 4 Mrs Dove and Miss went to the Assembly with me.

1815

 Jan 8th We were robbed of poultry and bees.

Jan 11 Mrs Caton sent three of his children to Mr Bewley, the Grandfather to Lincoln, Richard, Harriot and Thomas.

Jan 18 The sale of Mr Catons at Welwyn he absent. I ill in a fever.

Jan 29 Mr North’s sale at Bodicot, Mr William Wanen succeeded him, the same night our young plantation of trees shere loped of and spoil’d 19 in number, in ye front field.

Feb 28 Miss Noni died.

March 25 The infant son of Mr Beale died at Nurse Gregory’s, the person we bought ye phaeton of. Dined at Sir Lionel Lyde’s, with a  party ye first time the organ was used.

June 5 Lord Napier gave Betsy a sash ye same as Princess Mary”.

Reel 3 Wiltshire Record Office 1641/169

Diary of Charlotte Downes (née Grove), Ferne House in Donhead St Andrew, 1823

“ May 30 The Women’s Club at Coker. We went to Church with them Mr Jekyll preached a very good Sermon Harriet & I planned A pleasant scheme for the Women to dance upon the Green but it was frustrated by Mrs Helyour. Mrs Harry Helyour and Miss Emily Helyour dined here The children came early & spent the Day with their Cousins.

May 31 I went to the School before Breakfast. Mrs Peter Daniels called & Mrs Mildmay I visited the Stones house Woman Martha Stone of 80 – has walked more than ten Miles. We visited Lizzy Stagg in the Evening and she is worse.

June 1 I visited Lizzy Stagg before Breakfast. I accompanied Harriet to the Sunday School & adopted my plan of catechizing when reading the Gospel. My Niece Stynes answers very readily. Mr Helyour & Mr Jekyll had A long conversation about shooting. We had an excellent sermon from Mr Jekyll”.

Reel 6 Wiltshire Record Office 1641/181

Diary of Charlotte Downes (née Grove), Ferne House in Donhead St Andrew, 1837

“Monday 13 February

We attended the School. I had them all to ciphering. Our new Servant Mary Lathy came that She may be a week here to learn before the other leaves. I visited Jane Crowter she cannot walk without assistance. Rain.

Tuesday 14 February

We walked to Ferne saw my Father, Betsy & Fanny Benett her Sister Anne is at Salisbury under the care of Dr Grove Mr Samspson supposing a mad Dog had licked the scratches on her hand. We called on my Aunt Jackson who is not yet recovered from the Influenza saw Mrs H Jackson Henry is coming home for 3 Weeks. Proceeded to the Parsonage saw Mr Mrs & Miss E Blackmore met the rest of the Party. Fine Valentines Day.

Wednesday 15 February

Mr Downes attended the Turnpike meeting at the Glove Mrs Grove & Mrs G Grove called upon Us. I went to the School & taught Emily Lush to darn Stockings - the Invalids are getting better. Mrs Grove was taken in by that Woman named Harrison who said she came from Coker. Fine Day”.

Reel 8 Wiltshire Record Office 112/2/5

Diary of Charlotte Hobhouse, 1831

“Sunday Aug 28 I left the Tower stairs at ¼to 8 in the Batavia, accompanied by Lady Hobhouse, Amelia, Joanna, Edward and two of our servants, James & Eliza. As we sailed down the Thames, I saw little to admire on its banks, and the steam-boat was too much crowded with passengers to admit of my indulging in any of those agreeable reveries  which in the absence of external excitement will frequently suggest themselves to the mind while the body is in action without any effort of its own. As we passed Dulwich, Woolwich & Gravesend we parted with much of our human freight. Of the passengers that remained none seemed to interrupt by conservation the agreeable stillness of one of the loveliest days I remember….”

Reel 8 Wiltshire Record Office 1641/236

Diary of Agnes Geraldine Lane Grove of Ferne House, Donhead St Andrew (formerly Fox-Pitt of Rushmore Lodge, Berwick St John), 1883

“…. I put everything I do down in this its not meant to be interesting, and not like a letter. In a diary one puts all one has done during the day in a letter one only tells news & talks nonsense. Now I don’t know where to go on from. Thursday 6th we came down here started early & I kept the carriage waiting a ? at about 5 o clock got to Sal: met Groves – uninteresting people do you know them? I don’t mind the girl but that Grove boy! horrid person. Walked home with a person I am very very fond of almost in love with (not quite tho’) called Walter he is nice & charming & all the rest of it. There had an indifferent if not absolutely nasty Dinner! Then went to bed”.

August 1st Tuesday Went to the races in the afternoon & had luncheon on the Prats drive. Lent 5 shillings to Lord Parker & in the Evg dined with the B Stanfords & played cards & we won £2-10s.

2nd Wednesday Intended going to the races but glad we did not had luncheon at Mutton. Walked in the evg met Mr B S said goodbye to him.

3rd Thursday Married a fortnight today traveling again left Brighton  & went by sea at 10.00 to Plymouth  we spent the night on deck shivering with cold in two chairs. Smell horrid in cabin made ill by it arrived at Plymouth at 5 on 4th Friday & went to bed in the Duke of Cornwall hotel….”

Reel 16 Somerset Record Office DD/FS 5/3

Diary of Mrs Frances Hamilton (née Coles) of Bishop Lydeard, 1797

Feb 3rd

Wm &Govier winnow wheat – 17 bushels & half.

Barker carry in the Mud out of the roads upon the Ground.

Hooper & Jo: cleaned & earthed up the little- Garden. Wm & Govier piled wood.

Feb 4th

Set in Pease in Washbrook Field…sent for chips from Quarry-Chase.

Govier begin thrashing after winnow.

Feb 5th & 6th

Killed a pig, Wm go up to Helse.

Govier begin thrashing after the winnowing. Baker dig up the higher Orchard for Beans & Plants…..

Feb 7th

Wm begin plowing.

 Baker & Jn Hooper bring down Earth & spring-dress the Strawberrys.

Feb 8th Cut up the pig…Wm begin to plow for Barley….”.

Reel 20 Somerset Record Office DD/WO 54/11

Diary of Julia Trevelyan, visit to Paris April 1820

Wed We arrived in Paris, & went to Hotel du Mont Blanc. Mme de la Paix, Mamma & I walked on the Boulevards, & to the Panorama Passage. Cecile came to us Evening.

Thurs 25 Mamma & I went a shopping.

Friday 26 I walked with Cecile & did a great many Commissions, Mama joined us & Mrs Dacre.

Sunday 28 In Evening Mama & I visited our old quarters Hotel Terrace des Tuileries, afterwards we walked in Gardens, Mrs Dacre joined us.

Monday 29 We went out in the Carriage & Horses, called on Mrs Sheldon & Mrs Dacre, did Commissions, went to the Palais Royal, met Mrs and Miss Years – went with them to the Opera Evening, Ballet beautiful (‘Judgement of Paris’) met J J de C there, also Mr Turner, who left Walter….”

Reel 21 Somerset Record Office DD/SWD 10/5

Diary of Elizabeth Ernst, wife of Thomas Henry Ernst of Westcombe in Batcombe, 1816

“27 & 29 July at Liverpool. We are close to the exchange, a fine building forming a square behind with a bronze statue of Nelson…. There is a handsome front with pillars & pediment facing the castle…. It is one of the widest & best streets in Liverpool. This part of the building has a grand suite of rooms for public entertainment…. Walked to the docks where I was quite astonished with their extent & quantity of shipping they contain…. The King’s dock is on a much larger scale but they & the old docks are as nothing compared to the new dock higher up which is a most stupendous work & seems to be going on very briskly – hundreds of people being employed there.

Walked all over the town – the best parts of which are on the heights at the back of it & at some distance from the river….”

Reel 23 Hampshire Record Office F49/1802

Diary of Lady Joanna Bonham-Carter, May 1802

“23 Went to Essex St.

24 Poor Eliza being so ill with this fever the Thorntons have taken a lodging at Clapham.

25 We have heard 4 times of Eliza – she is worse.

26 Patty with the news of poor Eliza’s death.

27 Had the great Party. Vaughan & Eliotts….

28 Fanny. I & little boys went to Mrs Stones. Mama is not well.

Went to Clapham”

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